COLUMBUS, Ohio — The tattoos run through generations of history, culture and family, and eventually down the arms of Ohio State football defensive tackle Haskell Garrett. Some are tribal designs, which speak to Garrett’s Polynesian heritage. Others tell a story still unfolding for the Nevada native, and four Buckeye teammates from similar backgrounds. The tattoo on his inner left forearm features a palm tree-lined stream, with the phrase “E lele le toloa, ae ma’au I le vai.” The Samoan proverb translates to, “A duck will fly all over, but will always return to the water.” Ohio Stadium may be far from Las Vegas, but Garrett will always find his way home. Fans and alumni may not classify Columbus as the “East Coast.” More than one of Ohio State’s players of Polynesian descent used that phrase in reference to their college home.
Continue Reading: Ohio State football’s ‘Polynesian Pipeline’ helps West Coast Buckeyes feel at home on the ‘East Coast’
